LONDON, June 19, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - India strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah expects 
to feature in only three matches of the five-Test series against England as 
he manages his workload following a back injury.

The 31-year-old has taken 205 Test wickets at a stunning average of under 20 
apiece, with his unique action and ability to generate sharp pace off a short 
run making him especially difficult to face.

But he suffered a back injury during the final match of India's 3-1 series 
loss in Australia, in January.

And with five Tests in less than seven weeks, starting at Headingley on 
Friday, Bumrah is concerned to maintain peak fitness as India bid for their 
first series win in England since 2007.

"The body is feeling good, no issues, no complaints," the fast bowler told 
Sky Sports.

"I have to be smart as well as I am not becoming younger by the day. I have 
to take care of my body as I would love to play for longer and contribute in 
all three formats.

"I plan on the go but three Test matches is what I am looking at, what I can 
manage at this moment.

"The first is definitely going to happen, the rest we see how things are, 
what is the workload, what are the scenarios. Hopefully in the games I play I 
give my absolute best."

Bumrah, who has taken 60 wickets at an average of 22.16 in 14 Tests against 
England, is a senior figure in a youthful squad now captained by Shubman Gill 
after former skippers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both retired last month.

The paceman said the expectation that he would not be involved in every Test 
against England was central to his decision to rule himself out of the 
captaincy.

Bumrah led India during two Tests in Australia but batsman Gill is now in 
charge.

"There are no fancy stories, no controversy, no headlines that I was sacked," 
said Bumrah, who had back surgery in 2023.

"I discussed about my workloads going forward, spoke to the people who have 
managed my back, spoke to the surgeon.

"I came to the conclusion I have to be a little more smart so I called the 
BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and said I don't want to be 
looked at in a leadership role."

"They were looking at me for leadership but I had to say 'no' as it's not 
fair for the team if in a five-Test series, three matches somebody else is 
leading and two matches somebody else is leading."